第一小说网

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第78部分（第1页）

perations　were　suspended　for　a　time。

Meanwhile　Cao　Cao　was　distributing　rewards　to　his　army　for　the　late　victory；　and　his　spies　were　scouting　all　about　Jizhou。　He　soon　learned　that　Yuan　Shao　was　ill；　and　that　the　youngest　son　Yuan　Shang　and　Shen　Pei　were　in　mand　of　the　city；　while　his　brothers　and　cousin　had　returned　each　to　his　own。　Cao　Caos　advisers　were　in　favor　of　a　speedy　attack。

But　he　objected；　saying；　〃Jizhou　is　large　and　well　supplied。　Shen　Pei　is　an　able　strategist。　And　it　behooves　me　to　be　careful。　I　would　rather　wait　till　the　autumn　when　the　crops　have　been　gathered　in　so　that　the　people　will　not　suffer。〃

While　the　attack　was　being　talked　over　there　came　letters　from　Xun　Yu：

〃Liu　Bei　was　strengthening　himself　at　Runan　with　the　force　of　Liu　Pi　and　Gong　Du　and；　when　he　heard　that　you　was　attacking　Jizhou；　he　said　he　would　take　the　opportunity　to　march　on　the　capital。　Wherefore　you；　Sir；　should　hasten　homeward　to　defend　Xuchang。〃

This　news　disconcerted　Cao　Cao。　He　left　Cao　Hong　in　mand　on　the　river　bank；　with　orders　to　maintain　the　appearance　of　strength　there；　while　he　led　the　main　part　of　his　army　to　meet　the　threatened　attack　from　Runan。

Meanwhile　Liu　Bei；　his　brothers；　and　the　leaders；　having　gone　forth　with　the　intention　of　attacking　the　capital；　had　reached　a　point　near　the　Rang　Mountains　when　Cao　Cao　came　upon　them。　So　Liu　Bei　camped　by　the　hills　and　divided　his　army　into　three；　sending　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei　with　ten　thousand　troops　each　to　entrench　themselves　southeast　and　southwest　respectively　of　the　main　body；　which　he　and　Zhao　Yun　manded。

When　Cao　Cao　came　near；　Liu　Bei　beat　his　drums　and　went　out　to　where　Cao　Cao　had　already　arrayed　his　army。

Cao　Cao　called　Liu　Bei　to　a　parley；　and　when　the　latter　appeared　under　his　great　standard；　Cao　Cao　pointed　his　whip　at　him　and　railed；　saying；　〃I　treated　you　as　a　guest　of　the　highest　consideration。　Why　then　do　you　turn　your　back　on　righteousness　and　forget　kindness？〃

Liu　Bei　replied；　〃Under　the　name　of　Prime　Minister　you　are　really　a　rebel。　I　am　a　direct　descendant　of　the　family；　and　I　have　a　secret　decree　from　the　Throne　to　take　such　offenders　as　you。〃

As　he　said　these　words；　he　produced　and　recited　the　decree　which　is　known　as　the　〃Girdle　Mandate。〃

Cao　Cao　grew　very　angry　and　ordered　Xu　Chu　to　go　out　to　battle。　As　Liu　Beis　champion；　out　rode　Zhao　Yun　with　spear　ready　to　thrust。　The　two　warriors　exchanged　thirty　bouts　without　advantage　to　either。　Then　there　arose　an　earth…rending　shout　and　up　came　the　two　brothers；　Guan　Yu　from　the　southeast　and　Zhang　Fei　from　the　southwest。　The　three　armies　then　began　a　great　attack；　which　proved　too　much　for　Cao　Caos　troops；　fatigued　by　a　long　march；　and　they　were　worsted　and　fled。　Liu　Bei　having　scored　this　victory　returned　to　camp。

Next　day　he　sent　out　Zhao　Yun　again　to　challenge　the　enemy；　but　it　was　not　accepted　and　Cao　Caos　army　remained　ten　days　without　movement。　Then　Zhang　Fei　offered　a　challenge　which　also　was　not　accepted。　And　Liu　Bei　began　to　feel　anxious。

Then　unexpectedly　came　news　that　the　enemy　had　stopped　a　train　of　supplies　brought　by　Gong　Du；　and　at　once　Zhang　Fei　went　to　the　rescue。　Worse　still　was　the　news　that　followed；　that　an　army　led　by　Xiahou　Dun　had　got　in　behind　to　attack　Runan。

Quite　dismayed；　Liu　Bei　said；　〃If　this　be　true；　I　have　enemies　in　front　and　rear　and　have　no　place　to　go。〃

He　then　sent　Guan　Yu　to　try　to　recover　the　city　and　thus　both　his　brothers　were　absent　from　his　side。　One　day　later　a　horseman　rode　up　to　say　that　Runan　had　fallen；　its　defender　Liu　Pi　had　fled；　and　Guan　Yu　was　surrounded。　To　make　the　matters　worse；　the　news　came　that　Zhang　Fei；　who　had　gone　to　rescue　Gong　Du；　was　in　like　case。

Liu　Bei　tried　to　withdraw　his　troops；　fearing　all　the　time　an　attack　from　Cao　Cao。　Suddenly　the　sentinels　came　in；　saying：　〃Xu　Chu　is　at　the　camp　gate　offering　a　challenge。〃

Liu　Bei　did　not　allow　his　army　to　go　out。　They　waited　till　dawn；　and　then　Liu　Bei　bade　the　soldiers　get　a　good　meal　and　be　ready　to　start。　When　ready　the　foot　went　out　first；　the　horsemen　next；　leaving　a　few　troops　in　the　camp　to　beat　the　watches　and　maintain　an　appearance　of　occupation。

After　traveling　some　miles；　they　passed　some　mounds。　Suddenly　torches　blazed　out；　and　on　the　summit　stood　one　who　shouted；　〃Do　not　let　Liu　Bei　run　away！　I；　the　Prime　Minister；　am　here　awaiting　you！〃

Liu　Bei　dashed　along　the　first　clear　road　he　saw。

Zhao　Yun　said；　〃Fear　not；　my　lord；　only　follow　me！〃

And　setting　his　spear；　Zhao　Yun　galloped　in　front　opening　an　alley　as　he　went。　Liu　Bei　gripped　his　double　swords　and　followed　close。　As　they　were　winning　through；　Xu　Chu　came　in　pursuit　and　engaged　Zhao　Yun；　and　two　other　panies　led　by　Yu　Jin　and　Li　Dian　bore　down　as　well。　Seeing　the　situation　so　desperate；　Liu　Bei　plunged　into　the　wilds　and　fled。　Gradually　the　sounds　of　battle　became　fainter　and　died　away　while　he　went　deeper　and　deeper　into　the　hills；　a　single　horseman　fleeing　for　his　life。　He　kept　on　his　way　till　daybreak；　when　a　pany　suddenly　appeared　beside　the　road。　Liu　Bei　saw　these　men　with　terror　at　first；　but　was　presently　relieved　to　find　they　were　led　by　the　friendly　Liu　Pi。　They　were　a　pany　of　his　defeated　army　escorting　the　family　of　their　chief。　With　them　also　were　Sun　Qian；　Jian　Yong；　and　Mi　Fang。

They　told　him；　〃The　attack　on　Runan　was　too　strong　to　be　resisted；　and　so　we　were　pelled　to　abandon　the　defense；　and　the　enemy　followed；　and　only　Guan　Yus　timely　arrival　saved　us　from　destruction。〃

〃I　do　not　know　where　my　brother　is；〃　said　Liu　Bei。